GARDENERS in Bromsgrove are being asked to check their sheds for soon-to-be banned pesticides.

Under an EU directive, some popular lawn feed and weed killer products sold under 'own-label' brands, ASDA, B&Q, Boots, Do-It-All, Homebase and Woolworths will be prohibited from Thursday, July 24.

And by Christmas the ban will include anyone who stores the potentially dangerous chemicals in their shed.

Chief executive of retail for Webbs Garden Centre in Worcester Road, Boyd Douglas-Davies, said: "Garden centres and manufacturing companies have known about the ban for some time and have altered their products accordingly. "

He added: "The danger is the gardener who may get caught out by having an unfinished bottle of pesticide at the back of their garage."

The forthcoming ban applies to any product containing dichlorprop, tar acids and Trifoline.

Operations director for Severn Waste Services John Lashley said: "We have a facility for members of the public to get rid of small quantities of toxic waste.

"Chemical site safes, which are securely locked metal containers, are available in which to dispose of these banned products."

Any gardeners getting rid of toxic waste have to see an attendant who will note down who has brought the product in and how much of it.

The chemical site safes are based at the Hanbury Road waste site in Droitwich and at the Crossgate Road site in Redditch. The service is not available at Romsley's Quantry Lane waste site.

kate.hughes@

midlands.newsquest.

co.uk